Tube & Bottle Brush Sizing Guide: Diameter, Fill and Stem

Size the brush to the bore

Choose a brush diameter slightly larger than the inside diameter (ID) of the tube so the filament stays in light contact with the wall as it passes through. A common rule is to add roughly 10–15% over the bore for cleaning, more for scrubbing. Our twisted-in-wire tube / bottle brush is available from 1/4 to 2 in diameter with fine 0.003–0.010 in nylon fill.

Choose the fill

• Nylon — general cleaning, wet or dry, gentle on tube walls.
• Stiffer / coarser fill — for scale and deposits; softer fill for polished or coated bores.
• Abrasive or wire fill — for hard scale (specify if the bore can tolerate it).

Stem and handle

The twisted galvanized-wire stem sets the reach — match its length to how deep you need to clean, and add a loop handle for hand use or a plain stem for chucking into a drill. For long pipe runs, longer stems or flexible shafts keep the brush centred.

Frequently asked questions

How much bigger than the tube should the brush be?

Pick a brush diameter about 10–15% larger than the tube's inside diameter for cleaning, so the bristles wipe the wall without jamming. Go a little larger for heavy scrubbing.

Can tube brushes be used in a drill?

Yes. A straight twisted-wire stem can be chucked into a drill for faster cleaning; a loop-handle version is made for hand use.

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